Monthly Archives: February 2012

Train2Game news: Epic’s Samaritan tech demo needs power of ten Xbox 360s

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The Samaritan Train2Game blog imageTrain2Game students might be familiar with Epic Games Samaritan tech demo which showcases what it could be possible for games to look like in future.

If you need reminding about the impressive the Unreal Engine powered demo, watch it here on The Train2Game Blog.

The power needed to run the Samaritan? 2.5 teraFLOPS is what Develop Online reports Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney told a D.I.C.E. Summit audience. That’s ten times the power of the current Xbox 360 console, which operates at a maximum of 0.25 terraFLOPS.

The next generation of consoles is therefore going to have to provide a massive leap forward if they want to be able to run anything like Epic’s Samaritan tech demo in future.

We’ve no idea what specifications would be required for Unreal Engine 4 to run the demo, but at least we’ll get a hint as to what it’s capable of later this year.

“People are going to be shocked later this year when they see Unreal Engine 4 and how much more profound an effect it will have,” Epic Games Vice President Mark Rein said last week.

It’s reported that Unreal Engine 4 will arrive in 2014.

For more about Epic Games, the Unreal Development Kit and the Samaritan tech demo,see The Train2Game Blog interview with Epic European Territory Manager Mike Gamble, who was speaking to us at the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam.

What are your thoughts on the power needed to run the Unreal Engine demo? How long do you think it’ll be before consoles are capable of that amount of power?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Develop]

Train2Game news: Mass Effect 3 writer offers advice on getting into the industry

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Train2Game students who want the best chance of finding a job in the games industry should create their own games. That’s the advice from BioWare writer Sylvia Feketekuty, who is responsible for dialogue in Mass Effect 3.

“Try creating a game of your own. There’s a lot of community-supported game-making software out there.” she told the BioWare Blog in an interview about her role as writer for Mass Effect 3.

“Even if what you put together ends up small and basic, you’ll learn a lot about working in an interactive medium. It’ll really help you figure out where your strengths and interests lie. You’ll also have a lot of fun, too, between the bouts of frustration. Adjust what you have to, and don’t give up!”

Feketekuty also believes that game designers should read as much as possible, as it helps with creativity.

“I’d also encourage people to read as much as possible. Research topics you find interesting. Pick up a classic. Open up a play, or a movie script, or a travelogue if you’ve never checked one out before.” she said.

“Reading widely helps you become more creatively well-rounded, and that’s a trait developers always love to see.” the Mass Effect 3 writer added.

Train2Game students might find the BioWare Blog interview with Sylvia Feketekuty rather interesting, as she gives an insight into what it’s like working for the Mass Effect 3 studio.

Train2Game spoke to BioWare co-founders Dr. Ray Muzyka & Dr. Greg Zeschuk in November last year. You can see their advice, and find out how they got into game development, here on The Train2Game Blog.

What are your thoughts on the advice from the Mass Effect 3 writer? Are you making your own games? And if you’re a game designer, do you read a lot?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on The Train2Game Forum.

[Source: BioWare Blog]

Train2Game news: Bethesda’s Skyrim Creation Kit tutorials can get you started with modding

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Skyrim Dragon Fight screenshotTrain2Game Blog readers may have seen this post last week about official mod tools for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, finally being released.

While there are number of Train2Game forum users that are already trying their hands at making mods for Skyrim using the Bethesda Creation Kit, there may be those among you that have no idea where to begin with using the tools.

Fortunately, Bethesda has released tutorial videos for absolute beginners that provide help with using the Skyrim mod tools. There are three so far, with part one available to watch below.

The Skyrim Creation Kit Tutorial series is designed for modders, but it’s sure to be an interesting watch for anyone interested in how Bethesda made the latest Elder Scrolls title.

The Train2Game Blog has previously shown you some of the stranger Skyrim mods, including ones that let you turn Dragons into My Little Pony or “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and a mod that turns Mudcrabs into Futurama’s Doctor Zoidberg.

Keep reading The Train2Game Blog for the latest news about modding and how it could benefit you.

And for those interested in what goes on behind the scenes at Bethesda, see this post featuring a video that shows what the team did with their internal week long game jam.

So, what do you make of the Creation Kit tutorials? Or have you already begun to make mods?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: What should we ask Hironobu Sakaguchi at The Last Story Q&A on Thursday?

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Train2Game students may have seen this post at the start of the month about the upcoming BAFTA Q&A session with Final Fantasy developer Hironobu Sakaguchi.

In addition to hearing the games industry veteran discuss The Last Story, the audience will be able to ask Sakaguchi almost anything and he could therefore potentially provide advice to Train2Game students about getting that first job in the industry.

Unfortunately, this unique opportunity to question Sakaguchi is now sold out.  However, The Train2Game Blog will be attending the BAFTA Q&A on Thursday.

So if you’ve got anything you’d like to ask about Final Fantasy, The Last Story, game development or the industry in general, leave your questions here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Also, let us know if you’re actually going to be attending the event!

You can still purchase tickets to next Monday’s BAFTA Games Question Time, which gives the audience the opportunity to ask a panel of experts questions about the industry.

BAFTA’s public events and online resources bring you closer to the creative talent behind your favourite games, films, and TV shows. Find out more at www.bafta.org/newsletter,www.facebook.com/bafta or twitter.com/baftagames

Train2Game news: UK Charts – Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is No.1

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Train2Game students see a brand new IP in the form of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning take No.1 in the UK Charts in its first week on sale.

The fantasy title published by EA is the first new IP to take top spot since Dead Island in September last year, and the first original RPG to take the coveted No.1 since Pokémon, twelve years ago in 2000.

Last week’s No.1, Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII-2 therefore has to settle for No.2 in its second week in the charts, while The Darkness II from Take 2 is another new entry at No.3 Metal Gear Solid HD Collection drops two spots to No.4, while chart mainstay FIFA 12 slips to No.5.

The new entries to the charts pushes Battlefield 3 down three to No.6, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a non-mover at No.7. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations slips to No.8, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim drops one to No.9, with Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games reaching the top ten following the release of a Nintendo 3DS version.

Soulcalibur V, Saints Row The Third and Just Dance 3 all drop out of the top ten, while new releases Catherine and Grand Slam Tennis 2 debut at No. 20 and No.26 respectively.

The UKIE Gfk Chart-Track All Formats Top 10 for the week ending 11th February 2012 is therefore as follows:

1. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
2. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Square Enix)
3. The Darkness II (Take 2)
4. Metal Gear Solid HD Collection (Konami)
5. FIFA 12 (EA)
6. Battlefield 3 (EA)
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Activision)
8. Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (Ubisoft)
9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda)
10. Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (SEGA)

New releases this week include UFC Undisputed 3. Read The Train2Game Blog interview with UFC  Undisputed 3 Senior Designer Wes Bunn here.

What are your thoughts on this week’s charts? Is it positive that a new IP has reached No.1?  Have you purchased any of the new releases?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: UKIE Games Charts©, compiled by GfK Chart-Track]


Train2Game news: Unreal Engine 4 reveal later this year

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The Samaritan Train2Game blog imageTrain2Game students will get to see Unreal Engine 4 later this year. That’s according to Epic Games Vice President Mark Rein who not only said Unreal Engine 4 is scheduled for a reveal in 2012, but hinted that it’s already in the process of running on next-gen consoles.

“People are going to be shocked later this year when they see Unreal Engine 4 and how much more profound an effect it will have,” Rein told G4TV.

And while the development kit for Unreal Engine 3 took years before being given to indie studios and modders, The Train2Game Blog has previously reported that Unreal Engine 4 will be available to the public much sooner than the current version was.

You might remember that Epic showed off their impresive Samaritan tech demo, a glimpse of what could be possible with next gen systems, at last year’s Game Developers Conference, which you can see right here on The Train2Game Blog

And while there’s no guarantee that an Unreal Engine running on a next gen console would look like that, Rein reportedly said Unreal Engine 4 is running on “systems we can’t name yet,” which could potentially signal a next generation Xbox console. Alternatively, it could be the Nintendo Wii U, scheduled for release later this year.

For more about Epic Games, the Unreal Development Kit and that Samaritan tech demo, see The Train2Game Blog interview with Epic European Territory Manager Mike Gamble, who was speaking to us at the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Unreal Engine 4 being revealed this year? Could it already be in the works for next-gen consoles?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: NowGamer]

Train2Game news: There are too many gaming platforms says Epic CEO Tim Sweeney

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Train2Game students may end up developing for only a small handful of gaming platforms if Epic CEO Tim Sweeney’s predictions come true.

Speaking at the D.I.C.E. Summit in Las Vegas, he said that consumers currently have a lot of choice about which platforms to play games on, but only three or four of these will “win” depending on the choices their producers make.

“This is too many platforms. We’re seeing now iPad sales have surpassed the sales of PCs. This is a real revelation, this is a product that wasn’t invented until a few years ago and its basically supplanting personal computers.” said Sweeney, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz.

“Over time these platforms will be whittled down to a competing set of platforms to maybe three winners worldwide across everything – computers, game platforms, smartphones… We should expect a lot of consolidation here and winners and losers according to who picks the right directions and executes successfully,” he said

And the Epic CEO pointed out that systems such as the iPad are only just starting to scrape the surface of their potential as a gaming platform.

“There are a lot of technical challenges. We’ve barely scratched the surface of the consumer implications, what we can do with an iPad or iPhone today is limited by our experience of our computers and history. When a whole new generation of kids is raised with these devices pervasively around us it’s going to lead to entirely new worlds.” said Sweeney, who believes the best days of the games industry are yet to come.

“I see a bright future for technology and its implications on games. The ability of game developers to exploit another thousand-fold increase in computing power on future generations of platforms. Some of it will be consoles, some of it PC and some of it tablets. The form factor we can’t predict, but the opportunity is there. Our industry’s brightest days are yet to come.” he added.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the idea that there are too many platforms on the market? What do you think the future holds?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GI.biz]

Train2Game news: Ghost Recon Online beta begins 5th March, here’s how to get involved

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Train2Game students have the opportunity to join the Ghost Recon Online Closed beta, which Ubisoft have announced will start on 5th March.

Ghost Recon Online is free-to-play version of the tactical shooter set for release on PC. To register for an opportunity to take part in the beta, you need to visit the Ghost Recon Online official website and sign up there. Potential beta testers will need to have a registered Ubiosoft Uplay account.

As previously reported by the Train2Game Blog, Ubisoft say Ghost Recon Online will be AAA quality. A new trailer showcases the different classes of Ghost Recon Online is below.

Beta testing is an excellent way for Train2Game students, especially those on the Games QA Tester course to practice their bug hunting skills. Not only that, but in an interview with the Train2Game blog, Trion Worlds Senior QA Tester Karl Tars said that beta testing is potentially a way to get into the industry.

And in a recent interview with The Train2Game Blog, Brawl Busters developers Rock Hippo told us that beta testing is “crucial” to the game development process.

More Ghost Recon Future Soldier news is available right here.  You can also read an Ubisoft about Ghost Recon: Future Solider here on The Train2Game Blog.

What are your thoughts on Ghost Recon Online? Will you register to be a part of the beta test?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game interview: Train2Game Games QA Tester Ollie Smith

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Train2Game student Ollie Smith is studying to become a Games QA Tester with Train2Game. Train2Game Radio caught up with him to find out why he chose to study with Train2Game, how he’s finding the course and how he balances it around the rest of his life.

Read it here on The Train2Game Blog, the Train2Game Scribd Page, or listen to it on Train2Game Radio. Leave your comments here, or on the Train2Game forum.

Hi Ollie, what first got you into video games?

That would have to be when my parents bought me a PlayStation on my eighth birthday, and I was hooked on Spyro The Dragon for months. And then it’s been sort of a…next game comes out I buy it and I’m hooked.

So what made you decide you wanted a career in the games industry?

When I was younger, my father and I used to go to GAME in the town, and they had a special on with GameMaker, and it was only 99p for a license. So we bought it, but it turned out to only be a demo license and we had to buy the full thing after 30 days. So, I quit GameMaker, swearing never to use it again, and then I started to look at doing web design – I’m a certified web developer and know HTML and PHP and CSS. And from there I went onto learning Java, then I was looking on the internet for ways to make games easily and I found Train2Game. So I applied, then a year later I got a knock on the door.

So what made you decide to take the Train2Game Games QA Tester course in particular?

I was going to go for the Game Developer course. I was half way through work when the advisor came to see me. He started talking to me suggested the Games QA Tester Course. So I was like, OK I’ll sign up for the QA Tester course.

Tell us a bit more about yourself, what do you do?

I’m a student, I’m classed as a student because I’m with Train2Game.

How do you find balancing the Train2Game course around the rest of your life, is it an advantage being able to learn from home?

Yeah, definitely. I’m a night person, so I don’t come out in the day time, and the thing with normal college or uni is that it’s in the day time. So with Train2Game, I can sit down at 1 in the morning and just study.

You’re also a part time DJ, tell us about that.

Yeah, I do it for a few online radio stations as a fill-in DJ. I used to have my own show, but I got ill, ended up in hospital and didn’t show up for three sets…so, I got fired. So now I’m more of a fill-in, if one DJ is missing they’ll call me and I’ll hop straight on and fill-in for whatever DJ wasn’t able to get in.

Do you think the radio and DJ work you’ve done before could help you in terms of getting into the games industry, perhaps in the audio side of the industry?

I’ve thought about that, but it isn’t really me, if you know what I mean? I like to try and keep some things separate. It sounds a bit weird to explain, but if you focus everything around one subject, you tend to get bored of it very quickly.

Going back to Train2Game, what do you wish to achieve with the course this year?

I’m going to use a term from an MMO, I want to grind through it, get my skills up and hopefully get my dream job.

And what would your dream job in the games industry be?

To work for Lionhead game studios.

Great, thanks for your time Ollie.

Click here for more information about the Train2Game Games QA Tester course

Train2Game news: Bethesda internal Skyrim Game Jam video showcases potential DLC

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Train2Game students who took part in last year’s Train2Game & Epic Game Jam, and Train2Game student fans of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will be very interested in this new video from Bethesda.

It demonstrates the Skyrim development team created when they had their own week long internal game jam in which the only rules were “Do anything you want, and add it to the game.” Additions included new weapons, new creatures, new abilities, a really, really, giant mud crab and much more.

And speaking before the video was shown at the D.I.C.E summit, Bethesda’s Todd Howard hinted that some of the Game Jam creations could be added to Skyrim as DLC or free updates in future. Train2Game students can watch the video below to see what Bethesda created during their week long Game Jam.

Of course, as reported by The Train2Game Blog, the recently released Skyrim mod tools allow anyone to create their own additions to the Bethesda game.

Train2Game has held two 48 hour long Game Jams for Train2Game students, with the four winning teams at the Train2Game & Epic Game Jam, moving onto a Make Something Unreal Live at The Gadget Show Live, where they have the opportunity to win a fully licensed UDK Ios development kit.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the Skyrim Game Jam? How important do you think such things can be to both game development, and improving as a game developer?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Joystiq]